"Discretion"

"A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion." Psalm 112:5

As I looked up the word discretion in the Hebrew, it meant judgment, justice, ordinance. Its whole meaning dealt primarily with judgment- executing judgment, making decisions in law and judgment, legal rights, litigation, and so on. Discovering this brought a new light to the verse's meaning. It means more than just doing what is proper or fitting, which is what we normally think of when we think of discretion.

The righteous do guide their affairs- whether they are personal or business- with discretion. They are to do what is proper and fitting. They are to use wisdom, they aren't to be hasty, they are to be discreet and prudent.

The righteous also guide their affairs with discretion according to wise judgment. (This deals more with the "legal" sense of the word.) The righteous man guides his affairs within the boundaries of the law. These are not just primarily the laws of man, but the laws of God as well.

The point I am trying to get to this morning is this: as righteous people, living for and following Christ, all our affairs should be guided by God's laws. All our dealings- personal and in the business arena- should be governed by His word. His word gives us the wisdom we need to conduct our affairs. It gives us guidance to go in the right direction. It governs us so that what we do will bring honor and glory to God. Operating within His laws are a boundary that brings safety to us. You cannot operate a business, a home, personal or professional relationships without the counsel of God's word. If we could, He would not have given us His word.

God's word is not just restricted to our church services or church matters. It's not restricted to Sundays. It is intended to be our counsel and guide daily in all our affairs, regardless of where we are and what we are doing. Does His law govern your business? Does it govern your daily affairs? Does it govern your personal relationships? Are you living according to its judgments? If you are a righteous person, you should.

Have a great day. We cannot guide our affairs without God's laws.

For further reading:
Jeremiah 10:23
Proverbs 3:21
Isaiah 28:26
Proverbs 19:11
Psalm 119:104-106